Preserving family and identity: the challenges of 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa

• Main Author: Manjengenja, Nyasha
• Other Authors: De Jager, M.S.
• Language: en
• Published: University of the Western Cape 2015
• Subjects: Preserving family; Zimbabwean; Undocumented immigrants
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11394/4291

Magister Artium (Child and Family Studies) - MA(CFS) === The aim of this research was to explore and describe the challenges of 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants with regards to preserving their family and identity while in South Africa. Three main objectives identified which were: (i) To explore and describe what family and identity means to the 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants. (ii) To explore and describe 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants' challenges with regards to their family life and identity upon arrival in South Africa. (iii) To explore and describe 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants' challenges at preserving and maintaining their family relations and identity while in South Africa. A qualitative study utilising explorative and descriptive research designs was employed in a bid to answer the research question, namely: How do 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants preserve their family and identity while in South Africa? Data were collected by means of unstructured individual interviews and transcribed verbatim. Initially, six participants were purposively selected and they in turn directed the researcher through snowball sampling to the other nine participants who fit the research criteria until data saturation had been attained. The interviews were analysed according to Creswell's (2008) steps as well as guidelines for phenomenological data. Data were also analyzed to ensure its dependability, conformability, transferability and credibility. The researcher adhered to ethical considerations of confidentiality, self-determination, no harm, as well as beneficence. From the data emerged four main themes i.e. • 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants in SA's challenges in preserving their families • 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants in SA's challenges in preserving their identity 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants' challenges relating to their journey to SA • challenges experienced by 'undocumented' Zimbabwean immigrants during their stay in SA. Based on these findings, recommendations were made to social workers, social service professionals, governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations on how to mitigate the challenges that come with 'undocumentation.'